Quick Facts
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Mario Riva (26 January 1912 – 1 September 1960) was an Italian presenter and actor. He appeared in 51 films between 1941 and 1960.
Life and career
Born in Rome as Mariuccio Bonavolontà, the son of a composer, Giuseppe (Joseph) Bonavolonta (b.1885) and his wife Teresa Chinzari. His father composed over 500 popular tunes including "Goodbye Nemi" and "Fiocca Snow". Mario attended St Joseph College in Piazza di Spagna in Rome.
Riva debuted at young age as a dubber and a radio actor. His film debut was in 1941 in "Due Corri Sotto" (Two Hearts Seized).
He became first known as presenter of the stage show Clan (1942). After a long season of successes on stage (often in couple with Riccardo Billi) Riva reached the peak of his career with the RAI variety television Il Musichiere (1957-1960) (the Italian version of Name That Tune). He also appeared on several films, usually in supporting roles.
While he was presenting from the Arena di Verona a special event linked to the TV program, the Secondo Festival del Musichiere, he inadvertently fell into a hole in the stage covered with a tarpaulin and died.
He was married to the actress Diana Dei. There son was Antonelli Riva (b.1951).
Selected filmography
- Baron Carlo Mazza (1948)
- Adam and Eve (1949)
- I cadetti di Guascogna (1950)
- Vendetta... sarda (1951)
- Il padrone del vapore (1951)
- Arrivano i nostri (1951)
- Tomorrow Is Another Day (1951)
- My Heart Sings (1951)
- Accidents to the Taxes!! (1951)
- Beauties on Motor Scooters (1952)
- It Happened at the Police Station (1954)
- The Country of the Campanelli (1954)
- I giorni più belli (1956)
- Arrivano i dollari! (1957)
- Serenate per 16 bionde (1957)
- Toto, Peppino and the Fanatics (1958)
- Ladro lui, ladra lei (1958)
- Il raccomandato di ferro (1959)
- The Traffic Policeman (1960)